Pumped liquid cooling system using a phase change refrigerant

Abstract

An improved cooling system provides cooling away from the surface of electrical and electronic components with very low parasitic power consumption and very high heat transfer rates. The component to be cooled is in thermal contact with a cold plate evaporator device. Refrigerant is circulated by a liquid refrigerant pump to the cold plate evaporator device, and the liquid refrigerant is at least partially evaporated by the heat generated by the component. The vapor is condensed by a conventional condenser coil and the condensed liquid along with any unevaporated liquid is returned to the pump. The system operates nearly isothermally in both evaporation and condensation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for cooling one or more electrical or electronic components generating heat and required to be cooled, the method comprising the steps of: 
       locating at least one cold plate evaporator device in thermal contact with the one or more electrical or electronic components;  
       providing a liquid refrigerant pump;  
       providing a refrigerant;  
       providing a liquid receiver for, receiving the liquid refrigerant;  
       returning the liquid refrigerant to the liquid refrigerant pump;  
       using the liquid refrigerant pump to circulate refrigerant to the at least one cold plate evaporator device, whereby the refrigerant is at least partially evaporated by the heat generated by the one or more electrical or electronic components, creating a vapor;  
       using a condenser to condense the vapor to create a condensed liquid;  
       providing an unevaporated liquid return line; and  
       providing a liquid return line from the condenser.  
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing a separator means for separating the unevaporated liquid refrigerant from the vapor. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the liquid receiver receives unevaporated liquid from the unevaporated liquid return line and receives condensed liquid from the condenser liquid return line. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing at least one liquid manifold for receiving the refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant pump. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of condensing the vapor further comprises the step of providing an air cooled condenser. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of condensing the vapor further comprises the step of providing a liquid cooled condenser. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of condensing the vapor further comprises the step of providing an evaporative condenser.